Ulsrud died on Tuesday night.

Pål Trulsen, who is secretary general and sporting director of the Norwegian Curling Association, confirmed this to NRK on Wednesday.

– It’s so tragic. We are looking forward to using him as a coach in the future. He has so much to contribute, and he wants to contribute. He was already in an imminent situation. This is very sad news. He will be missed both nationally and internationally, Trulsen told NRK.

– Best we ever had

She tells about someone she believes is taking curling to a new level in Norway.

– He sold all the solariums to play curling full time and practice two or three times a day. “He was the most serious player we had at the time,” Trulsen said.

Ulsrud was for a long time one of Norway’s finest curlers and was the vessel in the team that took gold at the 2014 World Cup in Beijing.

He was also part of the team that won an Olympic silver medal in 2010 and became European champion in 2010 and 2011.

– He’s the ship in Norway with the most wins in international championships, and probably the best curler we’ve ever had, said Trulsen.

Win prizes

In 2011, Ulsrud was awarded the Collie Campbell Memorial Prize by the International Curling Federation. Prizes are awarded to the male player who best matches the description on the placard:

“The player who best exemplifies the traditional curling values, gentleman’s ability, fair play and good sportsmanship that Collie Campbell tried to maintain as a curler and as president of the International Curling Federation (1969-1978).”

The award has previously been won by Torger Nergård in 2010, Pål Trulsen in 2002 and Bo Bakke in 1988.

– He is a plus person. “It’s sad, cruel and so unfair that he’s no longer here,” said teammate and longtime friend Torger Nergård.

– We’ve been together for 30 years. What happened on the sports field is one thing, but it’s not what I remember now. That’s the man, and all the good things he brings, said Nergård.